Golad Academy · Course syllabus

Data Governance & Management

Duration: 12 weeks
Skill level: Beginner to Intermediate
Next cohort: 1 March 2027
Course price: £99

Overview

This Data Management course introduces essential concepts and practices for organizing, storing, and securing data effectively. Learners will explore database systems, data quality, governance, and compliance while gaining practical skills for handling structured and unstructured data. Designed for beginners and professionals, the course builds a strong foundation for data-driven decision-making.

Format: Live online classes + GADLE

Learning outcomes

Design a data governance operating model with clear owners, stewards and custodians
Write data policies and standards aligned to UK GDPR and the DAMA-DMBOK
Measure and improve data quality with rules, profiling and dashboards
Implement metadata management, data catalogues and lineage
Plan master and reference data management
Prepare audit-ready governance and compliance reporting

Curriculum

Module 1: Introduction to Data Governance
- What is Data Governance? Importance in Modern Organizations
- Key Roles and Responsibilities: Data Steward, Data Owner, Data Custodian
- Data Governance Frameworks: DAMA DMBOK, ISO 38500
- Organizational Structure for Governance: Councils, Committees, RACI Charts
Module 2: Data Strategy & Policy
- Aligning Data Strategy with Business Objectives
- Policy Development: Data Privacy, Security, and Quality Standards
- Regulatory Compliance: GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA
- Defining Measurable Objectives and KPIs for Governance Programs
Module 3: Data Architecture & Modeling
- Data Architecture Fundamentals: Logical vs Physical Models
- Data Flow Diagrams and System Integration Mapping
- Data Lineage and Impact Analysis
- Best Practices for Scalable, Secure, and Efficient Data Architecture
Module 4: Data Quality Management
- Understanding Data Quality Dimensions: Accuracy, Completeness, Consistency, Timeliness
- Profiling and Monitoring Data Quality
- Data Cleansing and Enrichment Techniques
- Implementing Data Quality (DQ) Rules and Automated Checks
Module 5: Master & Reference Data Management
- Concepts of Master Data and Reference Data
- Data Harmonization and Standardization Processes
- Golden Record Creation and MDM Best Practices
- Governance Policies for Master and Reference Data
Module 6: Metadata & Data Cataloging
- Importance of Metadata for Governance and Analytics
- Types of Metadata: Business, Technical, Operational
- Implementing Data Catalogs for Discoverability and Lineage
- Tracking Data Usage and Stewardship Responsibilities
Module 7: Privacy, Security & Compliance
- Data Privacy Principles: Consent, Anonymization, Pseudonymization
- Security Controls: Encryption, Access Management, Auditing
- Regulatory Compliance: GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, SOX
- Privacy Impact Assessments and Risk Evaluation
Module 8: Cloud Data Platforms & Modern Architectures
- Cloud Data Storage Concepts: Data Lakes vs Data Warehouses
- Cloud Governance: Security, Access Control, Cost Management
- ELT/ETL Pipelines in Cloud Environments
- Best Practices for Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Architectures
Module 9: Data Lifecycle Management
- Understanding the Stages of the Data Lifecycle: Creation → Usage → Archival → Disposal
- Data Retention Policies and Legal Considerations
- Archiving Strategies and Backup/Recovery Plans
- Automating Lifecycle Management Processes
Module 10: Governance for BI & AI
- Ensuring Data Consistency for BI Reporting and Analytics
- Governance Considerations for AI/ML Models: Bias, Explainability, Ethics
- Implementing Data Validation and Model Monitoring
- Best Practices for Dashboards and Decision-Making Accuracy
Module 11: Operating the Data Governance Program
- Establishing Governance Councils and Committees
- Tracking Metrics and KPIs for Governance Effectiveness
- Audit Readiness and Compliance Reporting
- Continuous Improvement and Stakeholder Engagement
Module 12: Capstone Project & Career Workshop
- Capstone: Design a Full Data Governance Framework for a Sample Organization
- Implement Data Quality Rules, Master Data Strategy, and Cataloging
- Prepare Reports, Dashboards, and Governance Playbooks
- Career Workshop: Resume, LinkedIn, and Interview Preparation for Data Governance Roles

Industry-extension modules (optional, on GADLE)

AI Governance & Data Ethics in Practice — The EU AI Act and UK AI regulatory principles; Model risk, documentation (model cards) and accountability; Data provenance, consent and training-data governance; Embedding ethics reviews into delivery
Data Mesh, Data Products & Modern Platforms — Data mesh principles and federated governance; Defining data products, data contracts and SLAs; Governance features of lakehouse platforms (Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake); Automating governance with policy-as-code

Tools

Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Informatica, Alation, Azure Data Catalog, SQL Server & SSIS, Power BI, Excel

Prepares you for

DAMA® Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) — Associate
DAMA-DMBOK® v2 knowledge areas
Microsoft Purview and data governance learning paths

Career paths

Data Governance Analyst, Data Steward, Data Quality Analyst, Master Data Analyst, Data Protection / Privacy Analyst, Metadata Manager

What you’ll gain

Improved Decision-Making · Enhanced Data Quality · Regulatory Compliance · Operational Efficiency